There was a rare northern Wisconsin bank robbery Wednesday at the Banner Bank’s site at Hatley.

Authorities said a man walked into the facility at about 2:45 p.m. when five employees and a customer were in the building.The man, armed with a semi-automatic pistol, demanded cash and left with an undetermined amount of money.

Marathon County Sheriff Scott Parks said law enforcement agencies from Wausau, Marathon County and surrounding communities responded to the call.

So far the robbery suspect remains on the loose, but it wasn’t for the lack of effort by law enforcement. An extensive search of the area was conducted until nightfall and extra police personnel remained in the area while investigators processed the scene, interviewed witnesses, followed up on tips and assured the area was safe.

He entered the bank with the handgun, demanded and received cash, left and stole a customer’s automobile.

The vehicle, a four-door beige colored Cadillac, was found abandoned at approximately 2:50 p.m. off of Poplar Lane, several miles west of Hatley.

Investigators are continuing to work on the case today and will be conducting further canvassing of the Hatley area. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been contacted and will also be involved with this investigation.

Parks is asking that anyone with information regarding this case or had seen or observed anything suspicious in or near Hatley yesterday to call Marathon County Crimes Stoppers at 1-877-409-8777.

It was one of the few modern bank heists in the area.

While there are some internal problems, robberies are rare.

The Bank of Birnamwood has been home to several robberies, one of them with fatal consequences, and burglars got into the bank in Aniwa a number of years ago.

Moving closer to today, The Pineries Bank at Mattoon was robbed on June 30, 2010 and the Elcho State Bank branch at Langlade was hit twice in 1975 by the same man. No one has been arrested in the Mattoon robbery, but one man was cited for the two at Langlade.

BANK ROBBERY—The top photo shows the Banner Bank in Hatley. In the lower photo, Marathon County Sheriff Scott Parks and investigators discuss the details of the robbery, which happened shortly before 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The suspect remains at-large.